Three-year-olds leaping to ravishing form

There are just over three months left of the harness racing season in Australia yet many mouth-watering clashes are just on our doorstep.

Despite some upcoming Grand Circuit gems, the juvenile pacers are the ones that have created headlines of late.

Lets take stock of what we have just witnessed these last two days with some three-year-olds.

Firstly quality Queensland pacer Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) made a seven-hour trip south to Tamworth, New South Wales, on Thursday (Sep. 8).

He went around in a heat of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge.

We know he’s good, he’s won just shy of $300,000 in just 19 starts yet he made another statement.

Leap To Fame raced outside the leader and smashed the track record when rating 1:54.3.

For perspective the previous track record was 1:55.1.

LEAP TO FAME REPLAY

Then on Friday night (Sep. 9) in Victoria at Ballarat another three-year-old put up his hoof showing some authority.

That was Captaintreacherous colt Captain Ravishing.

The well looked after youngster was having just his sixth start and his first under the guidance of 100-time Group 1 winning trainer Emma Stewart.

He found the front in the Colin and Heather Holloway Three-Year-Old Classic and was left alone but when driver Mark Pitt asked him to go, gees he did!

Captain Ravishing clocked his last two quarters in a scintillating 27.7 and 25.1 seconds spacing his rivals by more than 36m including smart New Zealand pacer Simply Sam who finished fourth.

“It’s one of the fastest quarters I’ve seen,” said racecaller Dan Mielicki.

To watch the replay, click here.

He might be perceived as the ‘new kid on the block’ but Captain Ravishing showed early potential when at just his second start, broke the track record at Melton clocking 1:52.5.

Meanwhile, over in the west on Friday night there were two Group 1 features at Gloucester Park with the Three-Year-Old Westbred Classic finals.

Tricky Miki (Always B Miki) won the colts and geldings $100,000 feature, securing his fifth win in 11 starts and giving driver Gary Hall junior 60 Group 1 winners.

TRICKY MIKI REPLAY

Then in the other edition Fly Like An Eagle filly Wonderful To Fly led throughout to win rating 1:56 and extending her record to 21 wins in 31 starts.

She now has earnings of $409,183 making her the richest progeny of her stallion.

WONDERFUL TO FLY REPLAY

It is amazing to think things are just winding up for this age group in Australia.

Upcoming features include the Victoria Derby and Oaks as well as the WA Derby and Oaks, then the Breeders Challenge Finals, the Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series.

Watch this space.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink